Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a petition against Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, the presiding judge over his case against the Kaduna State House of Assembly. El-Rufai alleges bias, injustice, and denial of fair hearing in the case, in which he is challenging a report that accused him and others of misappropriating N423 billion.
The petition, filed through his counsel, Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), requests that the case be transferred to another judge in the interest of justice. El-Rufai claims that Justice Aikawa proceeded with the case without his counsel present, despite a letter of adjournment being filed, and that he was not given an opportunity to respond to the counter affidavit and written address of the 1st Respondent.
The petition alleges that the judge’s actions smack of extreme bias, injustice, and denial of fair hearing, and requests that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court transfer the case to another judge.
